Chugach National Forest Summer 2010 Chugach VISITOR GUIDE Visitor Centers..............page 3 Backcountry Guide......page 11 Wildlife........................page 12 Welcome to the Chugach Located in Southcentral Alaska, this is America’s most northerly national forest. Contents This stunning landscape stretches from the sea to snowy peaks in an area the size of New Hampshire. It is one of the few places where glaciers are still carving Eastern Kenai..................... 4 valleys from the rock of the earth. Prince William Sound......... 6 One third of the Chugach is bare rock and ice. The remainder is a diverse and majestic tapestry of land, water, plants, and animals. In fact, diversity is what Copper River Delta............. 8 makes the Chugach unique among national forests. The mountains and glacial rivers of the Kenai Peninsula, the fiords and glaciers of Prince William Sound, Camping............................10 and the emerald wetlands and jagged peaks of the Copper River Delta are all a mecca for adventurers and nature enthusiasts the world over. Backcountry.......................11 People have lived in this landscape for millennia. Their will and determination changed this land and influenced its history. For more than 10,000 years, Eskimos Wildlife..............................12 and Indians have inhabited the Chugach National Forest. Athabascan Indians migrated from the Interior of Alaska to Cook Inlet, where their descendants Bears.................................13 still live. Eskimos lived in several villages in Prince William Sound—the villages of Chenega and Tatitlek are still inhabited. Eyak Indians made the Copper River Trail Guide.........................14 their home and their descendants reside there today. Trip Planning.....................15 The Chugach has attracted the attention of many cultures. The Spanish sought to expand their empire here; Russians sought fur; and the English were in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific. Americans, too, have looked to Alaska for whale and petroleum oil, fish, gold, copper, coal, furs, timber, and strategic defense. Much of the Chugach’s history is tied to gold and copper. In 1888, a discovery at Resurrection Creek led to the settlement of Hope and other com- munities that sprang up to meet the needs of miners. The Copper River and Northwestern Railway built in 1906-1911 linked the Kennecott Mines—the richest copper mine in the world—with Cordova’s port. Today, the Chugach is in the “backyard” of half of Alaska’s residents, and is a THE CHUGACH once-in-a-lifetime destination for a million visitors each year. Whether camping out with family and friends, enjoying a glacier cruise in Prince William Sound, Forest Coordinators & Contributors: Annette hiking to the high alpine, or watching the migration of a million shorebirds, you Heckart, Joe Meade, Susan Rutherford, and can find your own special place here. In addition to the magnificent landscape Mona Spargo and wildlife, you’ll see Alaskans living and working in the national forest. Produced and Designed by I invite you to take in the wonders of this magical place and enjoy the wild lands, wild fish, wildlife, and wild ice of the Chugach National Forest. Joe Meade Forest Supervisor Photos courtesy of the Chugach National Forest. Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks. The Chugach Visitor Guide is published by the Alaska Geographic Association in cooperation with Chugach National Forest. It is funded by revenue generated from Alaska Geographic bookstore sales. ©Alaska Geographic 2 Visitor Centers The Chugach National Forest is a vast and inspiring mix of glaciers, mountains, rainforest, and wild coastline—and Begich, Boggs Visitor Center backyard to half of Alaska’s population. Yet only a small fraction of Alaska’s residents are fully aware of its wonders Built on the remnants of a and opportunities. In fact, many children and families from terminal moraine left by Anchorage neighborhoods have never even set foot in the Portage Glacier on Portage forest. Lake, this world-class facility houses 17,000 square feet of In 2008, the Chugach National Forest designated itself interactive exhibits and a 200- a Children’s Forest, a symbolic designation that creates seat theater, as well as the Portage Valley Learning exciting, new, and innovative opportunities for connecting Center. The center is staffed with knowledgeable Alaska’s youth and communities with the outdoors. Led Forest Service interpreters that can answer your by Alaska Geographic and the Chugach National Forest, questions, assist with trip planning, and provide this ground-breaking program works in partnership with programs on the natural and cultural wonders of Alaska’s communities, educators, nonprofits, and public Portage Valley and the Chugach National Forest. lands to offer a wide range of innovative programs designed to engage Alaskans of all ages with their natural world. Hours Activities Summer: Information, award- Youth expeditions set out on week-long learning adven- 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily winning film and tures that travel to some of Alaska’s wildest places. The exhibits, ranger-led Winter: Chugach Conservation Corps employs high school students programs and guided Check website. to build trails and enhance the visitor experience through- hikes, and the Alaska out the forest. Students complete film, radio, and media Geographic Bookstore projects related to their time in the Alaska outdoors. Learn Fees more at www.chugachchildrensforest.org Movie and Exhibit: $4.00 summer Children 15 and under: Free America the Beautiful and Golden Passes are honored Begich, Boggs Visitor Center 800 Portage Lake Loop, Portage Valley, AK (907) 783-2326 Crooked Creek Information Site Nestled at the head of Val- dez Arm, the Crooked Creek Information Site is poised between the marine world of Prince William Sound and the forest of the mainland. This site features spawning salmon, abundant waterfowl, and the occasional hungry black bear. Hours Activities Summer only: Information, viewing 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily platform, ranger pro- from Memorial Day grams, and the Alaska to Labor Day. Geographic Bookstore. Crooked Creek Information Site Mile 0.5 Richardson Highway, Valdez, AK 99686 (907) 835-4680 (summer only) 3 4 Eastern Kenai Peninsula The Eastern Kenai Peninsula in the Chugach National Forest is best known for its spectacular recreational opportunities. Its forested lands, mountains, and rivers are just minutes south of Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. The peninsula is a haven for visitors and residents alike. A hiker’s paradise, it boasts hundreds of miles of maintained trails. For the fisher- man, numerous opportunities exist to reel in “the big one.” So head south to experience one of the forest’s most acces- sible treasures. Camping Numerous camping opportunities exist along the Seward All American Road and National Scenic Byway. Trail River Campground, south of Moose Pass, is located strategically between Seward and Cooper Landing for visitors who want to access recreational vehicles opportunities in both areas. Recently renovated to accommodate modern recreation ve- hicles and add additional camping sites, the campground also boasts a new day use area along the scenic Kenai Lake shore. A large group site is also available by reservation which has a volleyball area, horseshoe area, covered pavilion with fire grates, and playground equipment. Nearby are Ptarmigan Creek Trail, Victor Creek Trail, and Carter Lake Trail that access the spectacular breath-taking backcountry and offer fishing opportunities in both lakes and streams. Russian Lakes Trail The Russian Lakes Trail winds through the Kenai Mountains near Cooper Landing and has scenic overlooks of Russian River, Russian River Falls, and the two backcountry lakes, Upper and Lower Russian lakes. The trail has two trailheads located at the Russian River Campground and near Cooper Lake, and accesses the reconstructed historic Upper Russian Lake Cabin. The backcountry log cabin located near Upper Russian Lake was built by Forest Service employees in 1951. In 2007, portions of the cabin were reconstructed keeping the historic nature intact. The cabin is available for public use through the reservation system. Resurrection Pass Trail At nearly 40 miles long, the Resurrection Pass Trail is one of the Eastern Kenai’s most popular trails. It has been designated as a National Recreation Trail. This status Don’t Miss... recognizes the trail as an important connection between people, local resources, and quality of life. Eight rental Outstanding recreational opportunities exist along cabins lie along the trail. While they are primitive—with no the Iditarod National Historic Trail, especially along electricity or running water—they are mighty inviting on a Johnson Pass Trail. The original Iditarod Trail began in multiple-day hike. Book early because they are very popular. the southern port town of Seward and provided a vital (See page 10 for cabin information.) There are plenty of link to Nome during the days of the gold rush. The Forest Service is currently re-establishing the trail campsites along the trail if you’re unable to reserve a cabin. between Seward and Girdwood. If 40 miles is just not enough hiking, you can combine this trail with the Russian Lakes Trail (for a nearly 60-mile hike.) Don’t worry, if you are only looking for a short hike there are plenty of spots on the trail that you can hike to and back out in a day. 5 6 Prince William Sound Prince William Sound—where the forest meets the sea— has more than 3,500 miles of intricate coastline, tidewater glaciers, and bountiful marine life. The beguiling blue water is an open invitation to boaters and kayakers to explore this remote land. Nearly two million acres in western Prince William Sound has been designated as the Nellie Juan-College Fiord Wilderness Study Area to preserve its unique wilderness character. Immense icefields surround this inland waterway and give rise to magnificent tidewater glaciers that tumble into the sea.